A staggering 16 billion passwords linked to major online platforms such as Apple, Google, and Facebook have been leaked online. Researchers are calling it the largest data breach in history, yet few people seem to know it happened.
The cybersecurity team at Cybernews uncovered 30 separate data sets, each containing millions to billions of login details. Most of the exposed data had never been seen before, making this leak especially dangerous.
“This isn’t just a leak – it’s a manual for mass exploitation,” Cybernews warned. The stolen data included URLs, usernames and passwords, granting access to services like GitHub, Telegram and even government systems.
Google has since urged users to change their passwords, while the FBI is warning the public to avoid suspicious text messages that could be phishing attempts.
The researchers believe multiple “infostealers” – types of malware – are behind the breach, although it’s unclear who exactly is responsible or how many people have been affected.
Experts fear the leak could lead to a wave of account takeovers, identity theft, and phishing scams. They are advising the public to use password managers, enable two-factor authentication, and never reuse passwords across different sites.
Worryingly, the data was briefly visible online before disappearing again, giving just enough time for it to be copied – but not traced.
With so much personal information now potentially in criminal hands, experts stress that staying alert is more important than ever.
